The teacher starts the year with giving out a syllabus that includes the expectations of the class and classroom policies. Many of the classroom policies are about being respectful students. By that I mean students that are respectful to one another, it mentions specifically that put-downs will not be tolerated. It also mentions that the students will do their work on a timely basis. The syllabus describes a policy for being absent. This policy states that on the event of an absence the student is responsible for making up the work in a timely fashion. It also states that if a student misses a test they will take the test on their return to school. Along with the classroom policies this class has an associated lab so there is an article on laboratory safety that is distributed which is then talked about before the first lab. The semester starts with a review of some of the math skills that will be needed throughout the semester. These skills such as scientific notation and significant figures translate into helping with the first unit of dimensional analysis.
I believe that the syllabus that is given out is very basic which is good. At this point in the students high school career (class for juniors and seniors) I don't feel that the syllabus needs to be extensive because the students already know what is expected of them. I also feel that starting the semester with a review of the math skills is a great idea especially since it directly relates to the first unit. This was a great use of the first few days of class because the beginning of the semester always starts slowly as the students are getting readjusted to having school (I know that was true for me as a student).
I believe that the syllabus that is given out is very basic which is good. At this point in the students high school career (class for juniors and seniors) I don't feel that the syllabus needs to be extensive because the students already know what is expected of them. I also feel that starting the semester with a review of the math skills is a great idea especially since it directly relates to the first unit. This was a great use of the first few days of class because the beginning of the semester always starts slowly as the students are getting readjusted to having school (I know that was true for me as a student).